Blog Tag: Alzheimer's
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Pfizer Offers First Look Inside Its Post-Merger Pipeline
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Pfizer gave its first pipeline update since it took over Wyeth in October. Bottom line: The company now has has about 500 products somewhere along the path between early-stage human trials and registration, down from about an initial 600 in the combined company’s pipeline.
The company also announced it had dropped its bid to combine its Lyrica pain medication with other treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. Lyrica is already approved for fibromyalgia. Pfizer recently failed to win FDA approval to use Lyrica as a stand-alone treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.
The drug maker is targeting six research a...
Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog - January 27, 2010 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: James A. White Tags: Alzheimer's Diabetes Drugs FDA Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Duh Study? Lost Thoughts & Alzheimer’sEmail this article to a colleague.
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This isn’t to make light of memory loss, but it is really a surprise to learn that “cognitive fluctuations, or episodes when train of thought temporarily is lost, are more likely to occur in older persons who are developing Alzheimer’s disease than in their healthy peers”? This was the finding of a study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine and the results were published in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology.
Everyone experiences memory lapses, so having them doesn’t mean that you have Alzheimer’s, but the lapses, staring into space, and daytime slee...
Source: Healthbolt - January 19, 2010 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Marijke Durning, RN Tags: Duh Studies Mental Health Morning News Alzheimer's Disease dementia memory lapses Memory Loss Source Type: blogs
Anatomy of a Gift -- FlowersEmail this article to a colleague.
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Sooner or later, you gotta say, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose -- as long as you win. Take that Alzheimer's.....
By Bob DeMarco
I believe many Alzheimer's caregivers are like me on this one.
I try to buy my mother the things she liked before she started suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Granted she doesn't show the same enthusiasm for the gifts like she did in days gone by. This can be disconcerting.
I like to buy her flowers and I do so every week. Wonder why I didn't do that for my x-wife? Hmm, file that away for future reference.
Sometimes when I give the flowers to my mother she says thank you, some t...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 5, 2010 Category: Dementia Authors:
Nashville Man with Alzheimer's Wanders Outside, Freezes to DeathEmail this article to a colleague.
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Wandering is not something to be taken lightly.....By Bob DeMarco
Once again I am reminded about the good works of Rose Lamatt. Rose was concerned about a woman in her town that she noticed wandering around aimlessly -- Mrs J. The family didn't seem concerned, so Rose took action.
At the time, Rose was concerned that Mrs J would wander off into the woods and that something terrible would happen.
Nashville police say an 81-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease froze to death after he wandered outside in bitter cold weather.
Officers said the body of John Anderson was found lying under a tree Monday morning in his yard....
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 5, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's blog death care health dementia wandering Source Type: blogs
I Remember YouEmail this article to a colleague.
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by Max Wallack
I remember you.
We were sweet friends,
No, loyal family.
We shared and trusted
Each shiny day for a novel adventure.
I remember you.
You look familiar.
I see you in my disheveled mind.
Is it really you?
How can I be sure?
Dark shadows creep across your face.
But I think I know you.
Why do you look so evil?
Your sweaty hands are grasping claws
To snatch away my puzzled mind.
Don't hurt me.
Let me escape
The cackling demons pursuing me.
Their fiery breath
Burns holes in my memory.
Your eyes stare, glacial and fiendish.
I feel the stench of your wrath.
Don't chisel at mind.
At least,
Leave my soul intact...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 5, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: wallack caregiving alzheimer's student Max Gertrude Finkelstein poem dementia Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Disease -- The Front RowEmail this article to a colleague.
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Knowing that the day is coming when your loved one --won't know you-- is the most horrific feeling of them all for an Alzheimer's caregiver......
By Bob DeMarco
I often use the term "living Alzheimer's from the front row". This term describes caregivers that watch Alzheimer's take its course 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once Alzheimer's disease strikes, Alzheimer's caregivers get to witness the craziness that comes with Alzheimer's day in and day out. If you think it is disconcerting to see someone suffering from Alzheimer's for a few hours, a few days, or a week, think about what it might be like for every hou...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 3, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: confusion caregiving alzheimer's patient life health dementia family Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Reading Room ManEmail this article to a colleague.
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What do you see?......
By Bob DeMarco
What do you see? What do you think this signifies? Does it elicit any feelings and/or emotions?
Feedback welcome.
Bob
Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room
Popular articles on the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Advice and Insight -- Alzheimer's Reading Room
Communicating in Alzheimer's World
Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
The Mini-Cog Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia
Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
Alzheimer's Wandering Why it Happens and What to Do
50 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Ro...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 2, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: man confusion alzheimer's feeling thinking logo Source Type: blogs
Advice and Insight -- Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail this article to a colleague.
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“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” --Aristotle.....
By Bob DeMarco
The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One)
The more I learned the more I wanted to know. I learned a great deal about Alzheimer's disease--including the science. It helped me understand a very mystifying disease. It helped me to put a frame around something that is difficult if not impossible to describe.
Alzheimer's World -- Two Circles Trying to Intersect
When Alzheimer's strikes communication and behavior change abruptly -- overnight. It is up to the ca...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 2, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: journalist alzheimer's news metamorphosis health family advice caregiver Source Type: blogs
2010 -- WayBac EditionEmail this article to a colleague.
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By Bob DeMarco
Happy New Year.
For today, I am going to jump into my WayBac machine. Maybe some of you are familiar with Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman.
Believe it or not, I took Dotty to see the fireworks in downtown Delray Beach last night. The fireworks go off at MIDNIGHT. Dotty no problem.
As usual our little town of Delray Beach did a fantastic job. The finale' was excellent. If you ever come to Delray for New Year's eve, let me tell you its fantastic. They close off Atlantic avenue and you can walk around without fear.
There are all kinds of street vendors and they have groups playing music right on the str...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 2, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's peabody mom new healthcare dad year sherman Source Type: blogs
Happy New Year - Quote - PoemEmail this article to a colleague.
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“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” -- William Arthur Ward
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” -- Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Bob and Dorothy
Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day w...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 1, 2010 Category: Dementia Tags: room alzheimer's happy new year reading Source Type: blogs
Heaven or Hell ?Email this article to a colleague.
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There is no blame in Heaven. No blaming Alzheimer's. No blaming the person suffering from Alzheimer's. No blaming your unlucky, uncertain fate. No blaming yourself. You are made of flesh and blood. We all are......By Bob DeMarco
Lately, I find myself thinking more and more about communication and Alzheimer's. In fact, I am starting to think about it incessantly.
I find myself thinking about my 8 plus years of studying and thinking about communication. I say 8 plus because it all started at LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia. Later it became more formalized at the Pennsylvania State University (4 years) and the...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 31, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: room alzheimer's heaven healthcare dementia hell communication reading Source Type: blogs
Exercise Calms Agitation Associated with DementiaEmail this article to a colleague.
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Agitation and functioning improved in a group of elderly nursing home residents suffering from severe dementia when they engaged in just 30 minutes of supervised exercise three times a week.....
By Bob DeMarco
If you put the word exercise in the search box of this blog you will find more articles than you could read in a day.
I write often about how I believe the single most important thing to do with/for a person suffering from Alzheimer's is to exercise.
I write repeatedly about how exercise transforms my mother from a zombie like state to a person with a smile on her face.
In part, exercise explains how I was abl...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 30, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's health exercise dementia agitation fitness Source Type: blogs
Random Thought at the End of 2009Email this article to a colleague.
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Alzheimer's will try to rob the Alzheimer's caregiver of their spirit. It will try and send them into the black hole of depression. Every day Alzheimer's whispers in the ear of the caregiver -- give up.By Bob...
Comments welcome. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The)
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 30, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: room caregiving alzheimer's news insight health dementia advice reading Source Type: blogs
Ginkgo Biloba -- Two Thumbs Down for Treatment of Alzheimer's and DementiaEmail this article to a colleague.
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In the largest study ever conducted, Ginkgo biloba was found to be ineffective in reducing the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older people....
By Bob DeMarco
"It just continues to show that...
Comments welcome. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The)
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 30, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: supplement alzheimer's ginkgo news Biloba health dementia treatment Source Type: blogs
The Evidence On Ginkgo Biloba and MemoryEmail this article to a colleague.
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Medical research is finally starting to catch up with millions of Americans who have been taking vitamins and supplements for years. But people who swear by their pills to stay fit and sharp may not like the evidence that’s starting to accumulate.
The latest comes from a federally funded study of ginkgo biloba, a supplement widely used to improve memory and other cognitive functions. More than 3,000 people between the ages of 72 and 96 were randomly assigned to take a placebo or 120 mg of ginkgo twice a day. None of the patients had dementia when the study began, and they were followed for a median of just over six y...
Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog - December 29, 2009 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Jacob Goldstein Tags: Alzheimer's Research Source Type: blogs
A Cure for Alzheimer's?Email this article to a colleague.
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The two biggest misconceptions are “It’s just aging” and “It’s untreatable, so we should just leave the person alone.” Both of these misconceptions are remnants of an outdated view that hinders families from getting...
Comments welcome. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The)
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 29, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: room plan alzheimer's Murali action cure interview Doraiswamy reading Source Type: blogs
Just Puzzled -- AnswersEmail this article to a colleague.
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You might imagine my shock when my mother did about half of the TV crossword puzzle that was in this week's Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper......By Bob DeMarco
Recently my mother scored a 12 on the MMSE -- Mini-Mental State Examination. Her current diagnosis is mild to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Every day, I put the crossword puzzle in front of her. Sometimes she gets a word, or two, or three. You might imagine my shock when she did about half of the TV crossword puzzle that was in this week's Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper.
Just the other day she turned the shower off for the first time in years. Actually, she did it...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 28, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: room crossword alzheimer's puzzle news health memory reading Source Type: blogs
Crossword Puzzle -- Or Just Puzzled?Email this article to a colleague.
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So today, I go and check mom's crossword puzzle. What the heck? Instead of a couple of three letter words she has about half the crossword puzzle.....
By Bob DeMarco
I put the crossword puzzle in front of my mother every day.
In the "old days" my mother would do crossword puzzles all the time. I bought her a subscription where she would get a new puzzle book every month -- she liked that gift. I even printed out crossword puzzles from the Internet -- she really didn't like dealing with the print out version of the puzzle.
So today, I go and check her crossword puzzle. What the heck? Instead of a couple of three letter w...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 28, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: crossword alzheimer's games puzzles health fitness memory Source Type: blogs
Shower Off -- Wozo WorkshopEmail this article to a colleague.
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If I had not received this advice, I feel comfortable in saying that most of what I have accomplished with my mother would not have happened.....By Bob DeMarco
Let me preface this article by recounting something I learned almost five years ago.
It was wonderful, important advice from Doctor Chiriboga. He counseled me to let my mother do whatever I believed she could do. He told me, you are the one and you know what she can and can't do. He further advised me not to let anyone deter me with criticism or negative Karma (my word).
If I had not received this advice, I feel comfortable in saying that most of what I have acc...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 26, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: shower alzheimer's demetia patient advice communication hygiene Source Type: blogs
To Gift or Not to GiftEmail this article to a colleague.
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We know as Alzheimer's develops a person losses their ability to remember. Do we know for certain that they lose their ability to feel?By Bob DeMarco
I read several stories on the Internet about Alzheimer's caregivers and gifts to Alzheimer's sufferers.
It appears some Alzheimer's caregivers decide not to gift. Their reasoning is easy to understand, they believe the person suffering from Alzheimer's won't remember the gift, or won't appreciate the gift like they did in days gone by. So why bother?
I believe, as many of you know, that there is more going on in the brain of someone suffering from Alzheimer's than might ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 26, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's feeling world patient gift communication caregiver Source Type: blogs
Merry Christmas -- Quotes -- PoemEmail this article to a colleague.
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Christmas is a time when you get homesick – even when you’re home. -- Carol Nelson
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. -- John Greenleaf Whittier
From Bob and Dorothy
__________________
Christmas Bells
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(Written on Christmas Day 1863)
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
T...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 25, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's merry alzheimers-reading-room christmas Source Type: blogs
Dominick the Italian Christmas DonkeyEmail this article to a colleague.
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Another good example of how to use YouTube as an Alzheimer's caregiver tool. Dorothy really perks up when I put these on. She also seems a bit mesmerized -- this is a good thing.
Advice and Insight into Alzheimer's disease
Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room
Popular articles on the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Previously On the Alzheimer's Reading Room (In Case You Missed It Edition)
Communicating in Alzheimer's World
Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
H1N1 Flu Virus Everything You Need to Know
Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of D...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 24, 2009 Category: Dementia Authors:
My Dad -- Missing and FoundEmail this article to a colleague.
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We learned later that my father had become disoriented and lost. He did not have a cell phone, remember the name of the hotel where he and my mother were staying, remember my mother’s cell phone number...he was unable to ask for help.....
By Donna Giovannetti
My father went missing in Maryland. My mother was attending a conference at Fort Meade, Maryland and my father was supposed to pick her up at 4 p.m.
By 5 p.m. he still had not arrived. My mother reported him missing to the Fort Meade police department and called me at my home in Lubbock, Texas. Thus began some of the most terrible hours of my life.
My husband Ro...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 24, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's missing alzheimers association dementia silver wandering lost found alert Source Type: blogs
Who is Max Wallack?Email this article to a colleague.
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.....
By Bob DeMarco
Max is a sophomore at Boston University Academy. Max is 13 years old.
Max is an inventor.
Max's great-grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Max, the inventor, came up with a simple but ingenious idea. He started a public charity called Puzzles To Remember. A wonderful play on words.
Puzzles To Remember collects new and in good condition puzzles and distributes them to facilites that care for patients suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia.
Max's good works did not go unnoticed. Max was awarded $2500 for this effort. Max Wallack was named a 2009 Build-A-Bear Huggable Hero. Care to gu...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 24, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: wallack alzheimer's disease Max remember puzzles alzheimers news charity health dementia Source Type: blogs
Cancer, Alzheimer's less likely to strike in combinationEmail this article to a colleague.
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If there truly is an inverse association, it gives us one more way of finding out what's going wrong in both cancer and Alzheimer's, and that could lead us to new ways to treat either condition.-- Catherine M. Roe
Advice and Insight into Alzheimer's disease
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It may seem a small consolation from either point of view, but a new study has affirmed that patients with cancer are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and patients with Alzheimer's disease are less likely to get cancer.
"There were still people who had both Alzheimer's and cancer, but it was significantly less comm...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 24, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's alzheimers caregivers dementia combination cancer Source Type: blogs
I Want a Hippopotamus for ChristmasEmail this article to a colleague.
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Dorothy was grovin' to the tune of the music on this video.....
Advice and Insight into Alzheimer's disease
Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room
Follow the Alzheimer's Reading Room on Twitter
Popular articles on the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Previously On the Alzheimer's Reading Room (In Case You Missed It Edition)
Communicating in Alzheimer's World
Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia
H1N1 Flu Virus Everything You Need to Know
Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
Test Your Memory (TYM) for Alzheimer's...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 24, 2009 Category: Dementia Authors:
Wiggling My Toes -- Change on the HorizonEmail this article to a colleague.
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The core focus of the Alzheimer's Reading Room is advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease....By Bob DeMarco
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is wiggle my toes for a minute. It might sound strange but those are the points on my body that are farthest from my brain? Is farthest a word?
It seems to me that this is a good exercise for my brain. I base this on the fact that one of the first things going on my mother is her ability to walk. The use of her legs.
When I wiggle my toes I have to think about it while doing it. I am also sending my brain a message -- Alzheimer's away.
I also stretch my fe...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 23, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: caregiving insight exercise dementia changes advice .alzheimer's toes Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's World -- Two Circles Trying to IntersectEmail this article to a colleague.
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Alzheimer's World is difficult to understand and accept. Some caregivers get there, some don't.....
By Bob DeMarco
It takes lots of thought, hard work, and the development of a new mental construct of behavior to understand Alzheimer's disease. It takes time.
Take the relationship between my mother and me as an example.
I've known my mother my entire life. We have been communicating our entire lives. I would imagine that our communication is similar to most people. We engaged in all the human behaviors and emotions over the years. We established patterns on how to deal with the good and the bad.
Did I ever get angry wi...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 23, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: behavior alzheimer's world circle intersect health dementia advice communication Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Take a HolidayEmail this article to a colleague.
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You might want to consider sending this article to your family and friends in advance of a holiday gathering. It might be more effective to let them read this; rather than, telling them one-by-one. These are good suggestions.My personal favorite piece of advice:
Alzheimer's patients can become frustrated when someone tries to challenge their memories with questions like: "Do you remember me? "Do you remember what we did last summer?
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Alzheimer's Disease Doesn't Take a Holiday
The bright lights, big crowds and bustle that make the holidays fun for most of us often do just the ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 22, 2009 Category: Dementia Authors:
Why Didn't the Doctor(s) Suggest a Dementia Memory Test for my MotherEmail this article to a colleague.
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I am sitting here thinking about memory testing for Alzheimer's and dementia.....
By Bob DeMarco
Don't ask me why, but it is just dawning on me that none of my mothers's first three personal care physicians suggested or offered to get her memory tested. This in spite of the fact that I was clearly describing my concerns about her mental health and behavior.
Did you know that the typical personal care physician schedules an appointment every ten minutes? They intend to see six patients in an hour. It takes ten minutes to put gasoline in your care.
I had one doctor that looked at his watch as I was asking him questions. ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 21, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: diagnosis physician care dementia test memory .alzheimer's Source Type: blogs
You Know I've Got The Alzheimer's, Don't You?Email this article to a colleague.
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Listen to the Story -- You Know I've Got The Alzheimer's, Don't You?
You Know I've Got The Alzheimer's, Don't You?
Every once in a while, being stranded at the airport can have an upside. Take the time commentator Teresa Amend got stuck in a terminal. And she heard a story from a man she'll never forget.
TERESA AMEND: You know I've got the Alzheimer's, don't you? The man's words took me completely by surprise. And for a second, I thought I'd misunderstood. He'd been sitting next to me in the crowded airport and had been cheerfully chatting away for at least 10 minutes.
Maybe a decade older than my 57 years, he'd bee...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 21, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's life health airport story commentary Source Type: blogs
Sobering Statistics about Alzheimer's WanderingEmail this article to a colleague.
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How many people suffering from Alzheimer's go missing each day?...
I have never seen this number reported. There are some educated guesstimates -- around 125,000 in a year. However, as far as I can tell, there are only about 30,000 reported cases in a year. So the range in any given day is between 342 and 82. A sobering thought.
Current statistics indicate that about 60 percent of persons suffering from Alzheimer's will wander. This makes the potential pool around 3,000,000 individuals.
It is likely that only a small fraction of those that do wander get reported.
My guess is that many who wander don't get far. As a r...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 19, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: statistics facts alzheimer's mom wandering Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's World Two Circles Trying to IntersectEmail this article to a colleague.
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Alzheimer's World is difficult to understand and accept. Some caregivers get there, some don't.....
Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Editor
It takes lots of thought, hard work, and the development of a new mental construct of behavior to understand Alzheimer's disease. It takes time.
Take the relationship between my mother and me as an example.
I've known my mother my entire life. We have been communicating our entire lives. I would imagine that our communication is similar to most people. We engaged in all the human behaviors and emotions over the years. We established patterns on how to deal with the good and th...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 18, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: behavior alzheimer's world health dementia advice communication Source Type: blogs
UH OH UpdateEmail this article to a colleague.
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Carole Larkin wrote: So fill us in on the rest of the day later. What's the end result- good day or bad?
Carole bad day. The pain in my mother's elbow is persisting. I gave her the medication and a couple of Ibuprofen.
There isn't any swelling and she can use it. This is not a new problem.
It is hard to tell without an MRI if it is her shoulder (likely), tendinitis, or arthritis.
Other than that she is kinda comatose today. Comastose in the sense she isn't talking and has that dull, I am not really here, look on her face.
She is having extreme difficulty walking. She is looking down and more or less to her right. She...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 18, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's mom life health day pain Source Type: blogs
Elderly Woman with Dementia Found after Wandering Around All NightEmail this article to a colleague.
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Some lessons to be learned about Alzheimer's and wandering.I could put up one or more stories every day about someone who is lost and wandering around. Most often they are elderly and suffering from dementia.
I decided to put this one up because I think there are some lessons to be learned.
I want to start by congratulating the Frederick, Maryland police force. Great organization and commitment. What an effort. To find the missing elderly woman the Frederick police had to use 50 to 60 police and civilians, and four civilian K-9 search and rescue groups. Wow.
Keep in my mind the missing woman was on foot -- not in a car...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 17, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: elderly alzheimer alzheimer's news healthcare wandering Source Type: blogs
FDA Approves Generic Aricept to Treat Dementia Related to Alzheimer’s DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) orally disintegrating tablets.This is great news for Alzheimer's patients taking Aricept. I'll try to get more information from the generic drug manufacturer on the pricing and availability as soon as possible.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) orally disintegrating tablet s on Dec. 11. Donepezil hydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease....
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 16, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer alzheimer's generic FDA Aricept news healthcare drugs dementia Source Type: blogs
How Little We Understand Alzheimer’sEmail this article to a colleague.
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I encourage anyone who provides care or has a family member or friend diagnosed with Alzheimer’s to educate yourselves. By Angil Tarach
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Bob DeMarco recently posted the story of Eldon Foster's death after wandering away from an assisted living facility.
Besides the sadness I felt for Eldon, I was highly angered by the stupidity of comments left on the article describing Eldon's death.
I have taken a couple days to process this so I don’t unleash my thoughts and anger, but a couple days after the fact continues to leave me angry and sad.
The stupidity and ignorance expressed in the comment...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 15, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: opinion alzheimer's understanding education bob demarco advice wandering tarach angil Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Caregiver LoveEmail this article to a colleague.
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"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." -- Thomas Moore.....
I am receiving more and more email. Over the years, I talk to more and more caregivers.
Most of the interactions have to do with common problems experienced by caregivers. Also, potential solutions to the problems.
Caregivers often lament. Whether they know it or not, its grief. Often an overwhelming sense of grief that is coming to the surface. Often a subliminal cry for help.
Rarely discussed is the most important interaction of them all -- Alzheimer's caregiver love.
Lost ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 15, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: opinion alzheimer's quote health love caregiver Source Type: blogs
The Million Email March for Alzheimer's CaregiversEmail this article to a colleague.
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New Legislation Would Improve Treatment Services For Alzheimer’s Patients And Expand Training And Support Services For Their Families And Caregivers....We must do more to ensure that patients suffering from this condition [Alzheimer's disease] are receiving the best care possible, and that Alzheimer's caregivers looking after the needs of our loved ones are receiving the highest level of assistance and the best training techniques. -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York)
Here is copy of the email I am sending to my elected officials requesting that they support this legislation designed to help Alzheimer's Caregi...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 14, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: Maxine senator alzheimer's Waters patient legislation caregivers Gillibrand politics treatment Source Type: blogs
Man with Alzheimer's Wanders, Dies and MeannessEmail this article to a colleague.
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Here is the background.
Earlier this week, 85-year-old Eldon Foster died when he strayed away from his assisted living home in Keenesburg.
An aide who was on-hand found him a half hour later with lacerations to his head. Instead of following policy and calling 911, she took him back to his room and put him in bed. A few hours later, he died.
With me so far?
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Here is what his brother-in-law Bill Brown had to say:
He made the decision to confront the cold, knowing what the result would be, knowing that maybe it would cost him his life. But that was okay. That was okay.....
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 13, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's death wandering Source Type: blogs
Bunkhouse Logic: Send Alzheimer's PackingEmail this article to a colleague.
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In this study, we went directly to the root cause of Alzheimer's disease and asked whether we could influence the onset of the disease by modulating the aging process," says first author Ehud Cohen, Ph.D., formerly a postdoctoral researcher in Dillin's lab and now an assistant professor at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, Israel.
To answer this intriguing question, he slowed the aging process in a mouse model for Alzheimer's by lowering the activity of the IGF-1 signaling pathway. "This highly conserved pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of lifespan and youthfulness across many speci...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 13, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's aging dillin institute andrew salk prevention treatment cause Source Type: blogs
Dog Eats ChickenEmail this article to a colleague.
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Bye Bye Birdie....
By Kathy Hatfield
Dad and I watched the Meryl Streep film, Julie and Julia which is about a contemporary girl in Queens, NY who writes a blog about Cooking every recipe in the Julia Child cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
Since Dad has alzheimer’s, It's hard to find a movie that Dad and I can both enjoy, so this was a great mix of 1920s Paris and today's modern movie.
Well, I became inspired to cook a chicken. I know how silly that sounds when you can buy a $4.99 rotisserie chicken at any grocery store, but I know how much my Dad loves chicken and wanted to make a real one, from scratch...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 12, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's dog humor health story chicken Source Type: blogs
Senator Debbie Stabenow -- Michigan -- Supports Alzheimer's Legislation and FundingEmail this article to a colleague.
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It will take you less than four minutes to tell your Senators and Congressperson that you believe legislation to support Alzheimer's caregivers is important. Four minutes to make a difference. Or you can sit back and do nothing. Are you the one that makes the difference?....
Thank you . . .
. . . for contacting me to support funding for Alzheimer's disease research. I share your support for increased federal resources to fight this devastating disease.
That is why I have requested that the Senate Appropriations Committee support a significant investment in Older Americans Act programs that include Alzheimer's disease r...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 11, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: good news senator alzheimer's support legislation funding health Debbie Stabenow Source Type: blogs
Caregiving in America Fact SheetEmail this article to a colleague.
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Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Editor
Prevalence of Caregiving
An estimated 65.7 million people in the U.S. are serving as unpaid family caregivers to an adult or a child.
48.9 million are adult only caregivers.
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The Caregiving Situation
Caregivers are predominantly female (66%).
They are 48 years of age, on average.
One third take care of two or more people (34%).
A large majority of caregivers provide care for a relative (86%).
Over one-third are taking care of a parent (36%).
One in seven care for their own child (14%).
Caregivers have been in their ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 10, 2009 Category: Dementia Authors:
Previously On the Alzheimer's Reading Room (In Case You Missed It Edition)Email this article to a colleague.
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“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” --Aristotle.....
Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Editor
The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part One)
The more I learned the more I wanted to know. I learned a great deal about Alzheimer's disease--including the science. It helped me understand a very mystifying disease. It helped me to put a frame around something that is difficult if not impossible to describe.
The Metamorphosis of This Alzheimer's Caregiver (Part Two)
It is difficult to describe the range of emotions a caregiver mi...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 9, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: journalist alzheimer's news metamorphosis health family advice caregiver Source Type: blogs
Christmas and the Alzheimer's CaregiverEmail this article to a colleague.
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For most Alzheimer's caregivers Christmas means another bout with Yin and Yang.....Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Editor
For the typical Alzheimer's caregiver Christmas day can bring on a tidal wave of conflicting feelings. Christmas can be an emotional roller coaster ride.
I'm sitting here thinking about Christmas morning and my heart is feeling heavy. I don't mind this feeling so much because at least I know I am still feeling. Nevertheless, it is a bit of a drag on my spirit.
I'm envisioning Christmas morning. I'll wake my mother up, give her a kiss and say, Merry Christmas. She won't know its Christmas.
On...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 8, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: alzheimer's christmas caregiver Source Type: blogs
Communicating in Alzheimer's WorldEmail this article to a colleague.
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Let's face it, dealing with Alzheimer's is not easy. Understanding Alzheimer's disease is not easy. Some people can't do it...ever...
Bob DeMarco
...
Hard to do, worth the effort. Comments and reactions welcome. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The)
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 7, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: behavior alzheimer's news stress health advice communication anger Source Type: blogs
Dementia CaregivingEmail this article to a colleague.
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Video Caregiving
Streaming educational clips for family and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Custom video player with VOD modules a few minutes long each and background multimedia. Useful info on coping, communicating, activities, family relationships, caregiving issues, dignity and more. The producer offers more elder care info on DVD here. (Source: Channel N)
Source: Channel N - December 7, 2009 Category: Neurologists Authors: sandra at psychcentral.com (Sandra Kiume) Tags: General Online education alzheimer's brain caregiving dementia family psychogeriatric tutorial video Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer's Clock Draw Test -- Detect the Signs of Alzheimer's EarlyEmail this article to a colleague.
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Drawing a clock by hand is one of several useful screening tools that can help to detect mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer's.....
They say...
Hard to do, worth the effort. Comments and reactions welcome. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The)
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 6, 2009 Category: Dementia Tags: good news alzheimer's detect clock sign early health dementia advice test Source Type: blogs
